peters



UNITEB STATES WENT OFFICE.

JOS. PARKER, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

INVALID-BEDSTEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,580, dated June 15, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH PARKER, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, gentleman, a subject of the Queen of Grreat` Britain, have invented Improvements in the Construction of Bedsteads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and correct description of my said invention.

My invention of certain improvements in the construction of bedsteads relates more particularly to bedsteads for the use of invalids and others who require assistance in moving the body or parts of the body into different positions as may be required.

My improvements consist in certain novel mechanical contrivances whereby these and other similar object may be effected and conveniences afforded to or provided for the occupant of t-he bedsteadwithout requiring from him any amount of physical exertion.

In carrying out my improvements it will be seen on referring to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section and Fig. 2 a plan view of the bedstead that I remove some of the transverse laths or supports 7L, It, from that part of the bedstead which supports the head and upper part of the body and in place thereof I adapt a movable framing z', z', the forward part of which is mounted upon pins or studs j, j, secured to the stationary framing or ordinary side rails a, a, of the bedstead. These fixed pins or studs j, j, pass through slots 7c, 7c, made in the side pieces of the movable framing, as seen in Fig. l so that as the latter is raised by the mechanical contrivances hereafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing' it is moved slightly backward so as to enable the mattress g Fig. l which is joined at this part to bend and fold with facility when the head framing is rising In the plan view Fig. 2 of the bedstead the bed mattress bolster and pillows have been removed in order that the gearing and under parts of the bedstead may be more clearly seen. The wooden frame of the bedstead consisting of the side rails and head and foot rails is seen at a, a, ct, a and t-he vertical corner posts at Z) b Z) The head board c is made movable and is attached to the bent levers cl d. The foot board e is also movable and is attached to the side arms f This board is shown in its place at the foot of the bed in Fig. 2 but in Fig. l its position is only indicated by dotted lines,

the board being represented in Fig. l as raised out of its place so as to serve as a table to the person in bed.

The mattress g (Fig. l) is supported partly on laths It` l1, as usual and partly on the movable frame z' z' which is connected to the side rails of the bedstead by the pins j y' as before mentioned so as to admit of the framing being raised into an inclined position as shown by dots in Fig. l. Beneath the movable head frame is mounted a transverse shaft Z which carries at its center a sector rack m which gears into a pinion a on another transverse shaft 0 also mounted in bearings attached to the fixed framing a (c. This latter shaft 0 also carries a worm wheel p which is actuated by a worm (j on the longitudinal shaft i" that extends from the head to the foot rail of the bed- Stead and is provided at one end as at r* with a square head to which may be adapted a movable winch or handle as shown in Fig. l whereby the shaft o" may be turned for the purpose of raising or lowering the frame z' z'.

The head board c of the bedstead which is also movable is connected to the movable head frame z' by means of the curved arms or levers Z that turn upon centers CZ fixed in the movable head frame z'. These arms or levers Z are provided with rails d* which project below the movable frame z' and are connected by means of the rods s s to the transverse shaft Z which carries t-he sector rack m. By means of this arrangement the movable head frame z' and also the head board c are caused to move simultaneously and the head board c is also made to rise nearly vertically between the head posts of the bedstead as shown by the dotted lines. The foot board e of the bedstead is also so constructed and adapted as toadmit of its being moved up to the person reclining on the bed and may be used either as a flat or horizontal table on which food or other articles may be placed when required as shown in Fig. 1 or it may be inclined and made to serve as a reading or working desk as indicated by the dotted lines in the same ligure. To this end the foot-board is mounted on centers or swivels t t in the ends of arms or levers attached to the side arms or levers f f that are mounted on the ends of a transverse rocking shaft a to which motion is communicated by causing a worm fw to take into and drive a toothed wheel m on the shaft c the spindle of the said worm fw being actuated by means of a winch handle adapted to the square end thereof and by turning this handle and shaft e with its worm w the footboard e will be raised in the arc of a circle until it assumes a horizontal position as shown in the ligure when it will of course serve as a table; or as the board is mounted on pivots t t as before mentioned it may be turned thereon and secured by thumb screws or nuts at any inclination as seen by dots in Fig. l. The board e is also provided with buttons e* or other analogous contrivances which when turned up as shown in Fig. l will prevent a book or desk from slipping o when the board is placed at an angle.

In the figures the arms f f are shown as made of tubes so as to admit of their being pulled out and lengthened when required like the tubes of a telescope. The elongation of these side arms is effected by means of screws acting internally as is well known and in frequent use for an analogous purpose in other articles or the arms may be drawn outl by hand. When the upper part of the body of the recumbent person is raised by elevating the movable head frame i i movable arm rests not shown in the drawing may if required be placed on the table e and being made to extend back to the head board 0 the patient may with very little exertion raise himself While in a sitting posture by means of his arms so as to ease himself by resting on his arms. The mattress g is divided into sections which may either be connected together by flexible hinges or it may be used in separate pieces.

The bolster y is attached to the headboard c by means of straps z or other suitable contrivances which will prevent it froml slipping or falling down and inconveniencing the patient when the headframe and board re raised up into the position indicated by ots.

Having now described my invention of certain improvements in the construction of bedsteads and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect I would remark that I am aware that bedsteads have heretofore been made in which parts of the frame have been made movable so that the whole or part of the body of the patient or person reclining thereon may be raised into various positions as may be required. I do not therefore mean or intendv to claim the exclusive right to use or apply movable frames to bedsteads for such purposes except when such object is effected in the manner and by means of the mechanical appliances and arrangements above described or any analogous contrivances.

In conclusion I claiml. The mode herein shown and described of constructing and operating the movable parts of invalid bedsteads. I claim particularly the combination of the movable head board c with the movable frame z' and also the attachment of the bolster to the head so as to prevent it from slipping behind the patient.

2. I claim the use and application for the purposes above mentioned or for other analogous purposes of the movable footboard and the mode of constructing and operating the same.

In witness whereof I the said JOSEPH PARKER have hereunto set my hand and seal the sixth day of April one thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.

JOSEPH PARKER. [1.. s]

JOHN SHAW. 

